Take a look at the bottom of your driver real quick; you’ll notice that there are numbers on it that might say 9°, 10.5°, or 12°. Do you know what those numbers represent? That is how you know what the loft is on your driver club. It’s one of the most important specifications you need when you buy a new driver or need one repaired. The idea behind what the loft is all relates to how the golf ball travels when it’s hit off the tee, how high it flies, and then how far in distance it goes.
The right loft also depends on your swing type, clubhead speed, the ball flight you want to create, and the angle you are trying to strike it from. A professional golf instructor can take a look at that for you and get you into a club fitting to find the right driver loft.
In this blog, we will explain what driver loft is, how it factors into playing well on the course, and how we can provide the best quality loft on your driver.
Explaining What Driver Loft Does
Let’s run through it, and again, what can help is if you have your driver in your hand right now as you read this. Look at the bottom of your clubface, and you’ll see how it’s angled… that’s the driver loft. The more you add to the loft, the more of a higher launch you will have when you hit the ball. The degrees of which most of the best modern drivers are available range from 8° to 12°, although some models offer options outside that range.
Even if your driver lists those numbers, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the impact of the golf ball will reflect what the loft is. There’s a term known as dynamic loft (image above), which means it’s the amount of loft that’s presented by the clubface when you strike the ball. Lots of other factors can impact the location of where the ball lands, and that can come down to your type of swing as well.
Why Having Good Loft Matters for Your Driver
The goal of having a good loft shouldn’t just only relate to how high the ball can go. If you have too little dynamic loft, you may see a reduction in the carry distance, and a tie shot with your driver is the most important distance shot on the course. If you have too much dynamic loft, it’s going to go way higher than you need it to, and the goal is to find the perfect combination that allows for the right launch and spin for your swing.
There’s a saying in golf that goes, “lower loft equals more distance, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. How you deliver the club on impact with the ball, along with your own personal swing is way more important than just having a low loft implemented into your driver.
When talking about swing spin rate and how it matters to the loft, we wanted to take a look at how TrackMan defines spin loft (image above). They look at it as the relationship between the attack angle and your dynamic loft. If you increase your spin loft, that will also increase the amount of spin created, while reducing the spin loft can reduce the spin. You have to make it all work together essentially.
To give an example using dynamic loft, a golfer hitting down on the ball will create more spin loft than a golfer who delivers less dynamic loft with a more upward angle on their attack. That number on the loft you have at the bottom of the driver doesn’t really solve any problems; it’s like we said, how you swing also matters a lot!
We work heavily with TrackMan and their TrackMan Golf Simulators, which we have at our store, and we recommend you come in to schedule a lesson using them! There, you can test the loft of your driver and see if it needs adjustments.
How We Can Fit Your Driver To Help With Your Loft
How can we help? A professional club fitting company like Woods to Wedges will be able to fit your driver exactly to what you want in your swing. We will evaluate your spin rate, attack angle, the driver’s shaft, clubhead speed, launch angle, and so much more.
We have the technology to help fine-tune your performance thanks to how modern drivers work. Depending on the manufacturer and model, there are adjustable hosels that can alter loft and lie settings that will help with influencing the trajectory and direction. Titleist SureFit system provides multiple combinations for their own drivers.
There is no universal “best” driver loft that you will need; at the end of the day, the person holding the club also matters. If you can get a good evaluation of your driver, new or old, we can help connect the dots where you need them to get the best out of your club performance. If you want to learn more about driver loft or need a club fitting appointment, give us a call or reach out through our contact form, and we will get back to you when we can!
Golf Club Fitting FAQ
Should I get fitted for my driver to help with my golf performance?
It’s highly recommended that you get fitted for your driver club so that you be well adjusted for your loft, shaft, and the clubhead. Rather than just looking at it based on your swing speed or how you might compare to another golfer, getting a club fitting appointment will help you with your game as soon as you get back out on the course.